Thread: am I the only one that hates the new Lyngsat Beam Maps?

Originally Posted by AcWxRadar

Walrus,

You will have to show me what you mean about the "small print" next time you visit. You may be looking at something different than I am. Either that or you are SO old that your eyes are much worse than mine... Oh, that's right, you are older than me! HA! Just rubbing it in!

Sideline conversation... Lyle is giving me a ride to Omaha to pick up car parts this afternoon. Give me a call later in the afternoon (or early evening) if you have the time.

RADAR

Sorry won't be able to call you this weekend, leaving in two hours with the wife for our Anniversary. She has to teach at Colridge for scrap booking class on Saturday so that should be a lot of fun for me hee hee! But will take in a movie and dinner tonight in Norfolk.

I also noticed that everytime I try to log onto satcodx it takes me to satbeams? Either I am doing something wrong or the two sites have become one in the same?

The maps I was trying to open at satbeams were the C-band footprints for ero birds and some NSS for C-band for UK coverage. Wanted to see the dbm to help out (I-and-I), begining to believe that a 1.2 meter dish is to small for some of the C-band programing broadcast to the UK.

Walrus,

This is what SatBeams shows me for Eutelsat W2A @ 10°E from southern England. I think these SatBeam maps are easy to use, but their server must be small as it seems to bog down from time to time.

RADAR

I also liked the simple chart that showed the size of the dish necessary to get each sat according to your location

Originally Posted by John Popper

I also liked the simple chart that showed the size of the dish necessary to get each sat according to your location

John,

Do you mean the color block chart that SatBeams used to have off to the right side of the screen?

It took me a while to get used to them removing that feature and applying the "balloons" which appear by clicking on a location on the map. Each has its merits, but I have now become adjusted to their new style and I think I like it just fine. You cannot get the broader view of the EIRP map as you could in the old way with just a quick glance, but the specific information for one finite site is displayed much more boldly now.

Either way, it is much better than what Lyngsat is presenting and you are right, Lyngsats older maps were at least nicer to read and view than they are now.

RADAR

Dear all,

Somehow I have missed this discussion regarding Satbeams...

I just wanted to state that some people may not like Satbeam's interface, but it was designed this way to ensure that any map can be reached with maximum 2-3 clicks of a mouse. That's why there is always a satellites lineup on top. It takes some time to get used to navigation but I am sure at the end you will appreciate it.

Regarding the maps they are surely slower than regular "picture" maps but that's the cost of having them scalable and having all the math that provides the dish alignment help. The majority of the US/Canada maps are coming from the same source as here at SATMAPS - FCC and were kindly provided by our friend Nelson61! All other maps were recieved from the best possible sources including directly from the Satellite providers. The maps are regulary updated and at the moment we have the biggest collection of satellite footprints in the world in KML (Google Earth) format.

We are constantly looking at improving the site and your feedback is very important for us!

Should you have any suggestions how to improve the website or willing to help with maintaining the TPs/channels data do not hesitate to contact us through contact form at Satbeams or send me a PM here.

I have subscribed to this thread and will try to do my best to address your questions and concerns here. Just bear in mind the time difference as I am based in Europe.

Sincerely,

Alexander aka SatBeams

I've been using Satbeams all along and think they are great.
I like the whole interface



Never tried the Lyngsat contour maps that I can remember.

I agree with the OP.
The old Lyngsat maps were adequate and instant.
Great for comparison and quick answers.
Their new maps are ... variable ... and often worthless.

Satbeams old interface where you hovered to lite up the relevant info was good for its zoom-ability, but tedious to use, and difficult to select the proper bird/band.
So, I gave up general Satbeam use.

Their new interface certainly seems to provide interesting data and maping, as in AcWxRadar's many examples.
I'll give it a try once again.
However, I do not favor a tool I have to spend a great deal of time to find a simple answer.

Originally Posted by Anole

I agree with the OP.
The old Lyngsat maps were adequate and instant.
Great for comparison and quick answers.
Their new maps are ... variable ... and often worthless.

Satbeams old interface where you hovered to lite up the relevant info was good for its zoom-ability, but tedious to use, and difficult to select the proper bird/band.
So, I gave up general Satbeam use.

Their new interface certainly seems to provide interesting data and maping, as in AcWxRadar's many examples.
I'll give it a try once again.
However, I do not favor a tool I have to spend a great deal of time to find a simple answer.

I agree. That is definitely a drawback.

Originally Posted by ttalex

Dear all,

Somehow I have missed this discussion regarding Satbeams...

I just wanted to state that some people may not like Satbeam's interface, but it was designed this way to ensure that any map can be reached with maximum 2-3 clicks of a mouse. That's why there is always a satellites lineup on top. It takes some time to get used to navigation but I am sure at the end you will appreciate it.

Regarding the maps they are surely slower than regular "picture" maps but that's the cost of having them scalable and having all the math that provides the dish alignment help. The majority of the US/Canada maps are coming from the same source as here at SATMAPS - FCC and were kindly provided by our friend Nelson61! All other maps were recieved from the best possible sources including directly from the Satellite providers. The maps are regulary updated and at the moment we have the biggest collection of satellite footprints in the world in KML (Google Earth) format.

We are constantly looking at improving the site and your feedback is very important for us!

Should you have any suggestions how to improve the website or willing to help with maintaining the TPs/channels data do not hesitate to contact us through contact form at Satbeams or send me a PM here.

I have subscribed to this thread and will try to do my best to address your questions and concerns here. Just bear in mind the time difference as I am based in Europe.

Sincerely,

Alexander aka SatBeams

Thanks for the insight!